Episode 1: The World of Powers

  The sun cast its golden glow over the sprawling campus of Aokigahara High School. The air was alive with energy—not just the typical chatter and laughter of teenagers, but the literal hum of abilities being casually displayed. One student levitated their bag as they walked. Another created small sparks of lightning between their fingers, dazzling their friends.

  This was the norm in a world where every human was born with a power, their own unique gift that defined them. Powers ranged from the extraordinary—like controlling elements—to the mundane, like changing the color of their hair at will. But amidst all the displays of individuality, there existed a minority who were powerless.

  Kaito Hayashi was one of them.

  Sitting beneath the shade of a maple tree, Kaito kept his head low, trying to blend into the background. The world didn’t have a place for people like him, or so it seemed. He flipped through the pages of a worn book, its edges frayed from use. It was his escape, a world where heroes weren’t defined by flashy powers but by their courage and determination.

  He barely noticed the occasional glances thrown his way. The whispers, though faint, always reached him.

  "Isn’t that Kaito? The powerless guy."

  "Yeah. What’s the point of even coming to school if you’re like him?"

  Kaito clenched his jaw, but he didn’t look up. He’d heard it all before.

  The vibrant world around him only made his isolation more glaring. Even among the powerless, he felt alone. Most of them had found ways to compensate, to blend in. But Kaito? He had nothing—no power, no status, no purpose.

  A gust of wind interrupted his thoughts, scattering a few leaves around him. Before he could react, a familiar voice boomed.

  “Still hiding under this tree, huh, Hayashi?”

  ---

  The Bully

  The voice belonged to Takumi Shirogane, the school’s self-proclaimed king of the courtyard. Kaito glanced up briefly to see Takumi’s trademark smug grin, his golden hair catching the sunlight like he was some kind of celebrity. He was surrounded, as usual, by his entourage—students who either admired his power or feared him too much to leave his side.

  Takumi’s ability to control wind wasn’t just impressive; it was flashy, and Takumi loved showing it off. A sudden gust kicked up around him, rustling the leaves above Kaito’s head.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  “What do you want, Takumi?” Kaito asked flatly, keeping his eyes on his book.

  “Oh, nothing much.” Takumi took a step closer, kicking Kaito’s bag to the side. “Just thought I’d check on our favorite powerless guy. Must be tough living in a world of giants when you’re just an ant.”

  Kaito’s grip on his book tightened, but he said nothing. Takumi thrived on reactions, and Kaito refused to give him the satisfaction.

  “Still pretending to read that thing?” Takumi leaned down and snatched the book from Kaito’s hands with a gust of wind. “What’s it about this time? Another story about knights and battles? Hate to break it to you, Hayashi, but you’re no hero.”

  “Give it back,” Kaito muttered, standing up.

  “What was that?” Takumi asked, spinning the book in the air with small bursts of wind. “Did you say something?”

  “Give it back,” Kaito repeated, his voice low but firm.

  Before Takumi could respond, another voice cut through the courtyard.

  “Takumi!”

  ---

  Aya Nakamura

  Aya Nakamura approached, her dark hair flowing behind her as her intense eyes locked onto Takumi. The air seemed to still around her, the power she carried exuding an unspoken authority. Students turned to watch as Aya stepped between Takumi and Kaito.

  “Do you have nothing better to do than harass someone minding their own business?” Aya said, her tone sharp enough to cut steel.

  Takumi hesitated, the grin faltering on his face. Aya wasn’t just one of the most popular students at school—she was also one of the strongest. Her power, the ability to manipulate energy fields, was both versatile and terrifying.

  “Relax, Nakamura,” Takumi said, forcing a chuckle. “We’re just having a little fun.”

  “Does it look like he’s having fun?” Aya snapped, snatching the book out of the air and handing it back to Kaito.

  Takumi raised his hands in mock surrender. “Fine, fine. You win, as usual. See you around, Hayashi.” He smirked at Kaito before walking away, his friends trailing after him.

  The courtyard returned to its usual hum of activity, but Kaito could still feel the lingering stares.

  “You okay?” Aya asked, her voice softer now.

  Kaito nodded, clutching the book tightly. “Yeah. Thanks.”

  “You shouldn’t let him push you around like that,” Aya said, sitting down beside him. “You’re stronger than you think.”

  Kaito scoffed. “I don’t have a power, Aya. There’s nothing strong about me.”

  “That’s not true,” she said firmly. “You’ve got more strength than most people here. You just don’t see it yet.”

  Her words struck something deep within him, but Kaito quickly buried the feeling. Aya always said things like that, but he couldn’t figure out why. Why did she go out of her way to defend him? To help him?

  “I made extra lunch today,” Aya said, pulling out a neat bento box and handing it to him. “You need to eat if you want to keep up with me in class.”

  Kaito hesitated before accepting it. “Thanks, but you don’t have to—”

  “I know,” she interrupted, smiling. “I want to.”

  She stood up, brushing off her skirt. “I’ll see you in class, okay?”

  Kaito watched her leave, her presence leaving a strange warmth in its wake. But as the whispers around him started again, the warmth faded.

  “Why does she waste her time on him?”

  “She could be with anyone, and she chooses… that?”

  Kaito’s chest tightened. Aya’s kindness felt like a lifeline in a world that constantly pushed him down. But how long could it last? And what did she really see in him, a powerless nobody?

  Unbeknownst to him, the cracks in his world were already forming.